I own a 2013 forester 3011 DS. Since the beginning this RV has had a problem with the 12v Batteries. the first set of Delco's were replaced by the Dealer when after a week of dry camping one had depleted beyond repair and the other was weak.

The second set faired a little better but after 6 months of several full hook up trips one was bad and the other was recharged and saved. The cycle repeated itself approximate 12 months later.

Since both Delco's were out of warranty I replaced both with new Interstates. The dealer told me that they had problems with the Delco brand so they stopped buying the Delco brand and started purchasing Interstates.

Last week, while attending the RV Show in Pomona California, I had the opportunity to express my complaint to the Forester factory Rep Jeremy. He told me that my problem was most likely connected to the WFCO Converter that was taking 39 hours of continuous 110 power to bring the batteries to 90% charge. Further that several months ago Forester stated installing a different converter that would bring the batteries back to 90% charge in 4 hours.

I called Forester and spoke with the warranty guy, Russ, he told me that he did not know anything about the converter but that a different power distribution center was being installed in the new models and that some older, out of warranty, Foresters were being approved for a power distribution center replacement; and that based on my VIN it appeared that mine was eligible.

I called the dealer , they submitted the claimed that was denied. I am waiting to hear why. . However, I am out of patience so I am using this forum to vent and to ask if any of you out there in Forester land have any information regarding this circumstance or had a similar experience.

We've had similar problems...the converter went bad. Can you hear your converter running ? Sounds like a small fan running under your bed. We were camping in Glacier Nat'l park when ours went. Didn't know it was the converter..thought the battery's had died on us. Bought new battery's and they died too. Called our dealer..told us is was the converter that we could recharge the battery's with a charger to make due until we got back home. If you can not hear that converter running it's not working.

I'm in the process of my solar installation and it seems wire gauge is really important to minimize voltage drop. Looking at my factory installed red positive wire from the battery to power converter (WFCO) it appears to be 8 AWG. WFCO charge at a max of 14.4 where Trojan Batteries suggest 14.6-14.8. With the voltage loss you will never be able to fully charge the battery bank.

Last week, while attending the RV Show in Pomona California, I had the opportunity to express my complaint to the Forester factory Rep Jeremy. He told me that my problem was most likely connected to the WFCO Converter that was taking 39 hours of continuous 110 power to bring the batteries to 90% charge. Further that several months ago Forester stated installing a different converter that would bring the batteries back to 90% charge in 4 hours.

Tom

I am the one that pushed for the Progressive Dynamics switch. It was not because we were having issues with batteries...most of the industry uses the WFCO converter and has good luck with it. I pushed for it because the users on here spoke very highly of it. When a converter went bad, everyone said not to bother with WFCO, get the PD. So for the few dollars extra it seemed worth it for me. In testing the Progressive Dynamics quickly noticed a badly drained battery and went into boost mode. The WFCO was slower in recognizing the dead battery and would often times just go into float, not going into boost for a while.

Battery issues are very hard to diagnose. In many cases, usage is the culprit. (not saying that is the case, but unless you diagnose a specific issue then that has to be in play). If the batteries are drained down below 50% you start to lose charging capacity. Most people don't realize that the disconnect needs to be in the ON position to charge the batteries. When dry camping you need to make sure you are not letting them get too low. The fact that you had the issue when plugged in is more puzzling but not unheard of. Testing of the converter/charge line would be the first step before replacement under warranty.

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One more note. The power distribution box is the box just as you come in the door on the left (step well area). We got those from Wurth for a time being and had some issues with the BIM. If the BIM was replaced normally that took care of the issues.

I your unit was a Precision Circuits model, then those have had no issues.

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I am the one that pushed for the Progressive Dynamics switch. It was not because we were having issues with batteries...most of the industry uses the WFCO converter and has good luck with it. I pushed for it because the users on here spoke very highly of it.

Are you saying that Forest River is making the switch to PD converters? I just bought a 2015 8280WS. Is it possible my trailer has a PD converter?

What turbs said. This is a Forester sub forum. I only handle the Class C's.

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